As a result of decreasing degree attainment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, the United States is undergoing a shortage in the STEM workforce that it has not encountered since the mid-1950s (ACT, 2006; Gilbert & Jackson, 2007). Moreover, as computer usage cuts across diverse aspects of modern culture, the computing sciences have moved to the forefront of STEM disciplines (Carver, 1995; Jackson, Charleston, George, & Gilbert, in press). As the proliferation of global competition ensues, the United States must reach beyond its traditional reliance on White, Asian, and more increasingly Indian males as the only sources of viable scientific and technical talent if it is to remain internationally competitive and keep up with labor market demands (Gilbert & Jackson, 2007; Jackson, Gilbert, Charleston, George, & Grenell, in press). Though African Americans have historically been the foremost recipients of economic and societal ills which have prevented them from productively contributing to the growing field of computing sciences, they are a viable pool of candidates that the United States can no longer afford to ignore. This study was designed to examine, explore, and identify what factors helped to cultivate the decision to pursue the computing sciences through degree attainment among African Americans. Additionally, this study was designed to better understand the type of exposure, programming, and content-based elements that sparked the career aspirations of African Americans within the computing sciences; ultimately leading to their persistence and degree attainment in a computing sciences-related field. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]